Shipping, dispensing, and displaying case.



No. 639,746. Patented Dec. 26, I899. W. MACDONALD.

SHIPPING, DISPENSING, AND DISPLAYING cAsE.

(Application filed Apr. 26, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 639,746. Patented Dec. 26, I899.

W. MACDONALD.

SHIPPING, DISPENSING, AND DISPLAYING BASE.

(Application filedApr. 26, 1899,)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Pate nted Dec. 26, I899.

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SHIPPING, DISPENSING, AND DISPLAYING CASE.

(Application filed Apr. 26, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

IN'llhorp -fiacaondfl, Inventor By M bI$ Attorney Witnesses WILLIAM MACDONALD,

SHIPPING, DISPENSING,

PATENT FFICE.

OF HALIFAX, CANADA.

AND DISPLAYING CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,746, dated December 26, 1899.

Application filed April 26, 1899.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MACDONALD, a subject of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Halifax, county of Halifax, Province of Nova Scotia, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shipping, Dispensing, and Displaying Cases; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in shipping, displaying, and dispensing cases or cabinets.

The object of my invention is to provide a case of this character which is suitable for the purposes of shipping the contents and using the shipping-case as a display and dis pensing cabinet after the case has reached its destination.

A further object is to provide a construction by means of which the contents of the case can be readily inspected, a portion of said contents being Withdrawn for the purposes of such inspection, yet such contents being inspected remaining in position where they can be either returned to the case or be taken therefrom for the purpose of selling.

A further object is to provide a construc tion which is neat and attractive in appearance, simple and efficient in operation, durable in construction, and which can be madeat a moderate cost.

With these and other objects in view, the nature of which will be apparent as the invention is described, my invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all of the views, Figure 1 is a perspective View showing my improved case, the slidedoor being open and the exhibiting-chute located in its operative position. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same, the parts being shown in closed position. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 2 looking toward Serial No. 714,520. (No model.)

the rear of the casing. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the exhibiting-chute detached.

In the shipping and dispensing of perishable articles, such as fruit, it is necessary that the contents be manipulated without much handling in order toprevent the bruising and the bad efiect of the handling on the fruit. This is generally accomplished bymaking the shipment of these articles in barrels, in which one end is protected by a suitable cover, this being done for the purpose of allowing of an inspection of the contents. IVhen itis desired to dispose of any of the contents, the cover is removed and the necessary quantity taken therefrom, when the cover is again replaced. It will be readily seen that as the contents are removed it becomes more difficult to inspect the contents remaining Within the barrel. This, however, is not the objectionable feature of this style of shipping-case. It being necessary that the contents be open to inspection, the cover must necessarily be perforated, and this perforating allows of the entering of dust, &c., so that the use of such shipping-case is objectionable. These disadvantages in the present construction are entirely eliminated. In shipping the entire case is closed, so that it will be impossible for dust, &c., to pass therein, in addition to which there will be no liability of the fruit being bruised, as is the case when shipping in barrels, &c., the present construction being such that the case will always retain its proper position, in view of the fact that the proper position for the case enables it to be readily packed among other merchandise during shipment. After reaching its destination the contents are still kept dust-proof, and when it is necessary for them to be inspected a portion of the contents are allowed to pass outward onto a telescoping chute, the remaining portion of the contents remaining within the case being still held from the entrance of dust. Another advantage in the present construction is that it is entirely unnecessary to open the cover of the case until it is to be again refilled.

In order that a ready perception may be had of the construction and operation of the case,

I will now proceed to describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings to enable a ready understanding of the descriptive portion of the specification.

1 designates the casing, having its sides, front, and back preferably formed at an inclination toward the bottom 2, as shown in the drawings, the bottom of said casing being provided with a suitable expanded support 3, by means of which the casing is held in a proper position. The front of the case is provided at a point contiguous to the bottom 2 with an opening 4, which affords access to the interior of the case. WVithin the case at a point a slight distance above the bottom 2 is provided a false bottom 5, the space between the bottom 2 and the false bottom 5 (designated by the numeral 6.) forming a passageway for the chute 7, hereinafter described.

On opposite sides of the interior of the easing 1, extending upwardly from the false bottom 5, are two plates 8, the upper ends of which extend outwardly and contact with the interior of the side pieces at a point approximate the center of said side, said plates and the outwardly-extending portions 9 extending the entire length of the casing, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As best shown in Fig. 3, this construction causes the formation of a space 10 between the side pieces and the plate 8, which space forms the passage for the side of the chute 7. lVithin the interior of the casing and extending the entire width of the portion of said casing between the plate 8 is a wedge-shaped portion 11, which extends forwardly, having its apex located a short distance in rear of the opening 4, said wedgeshaped portion being removable from the casing. The opening 4: is closedby means of a suitable slide 12, mounted in slideway 13, formed on opposite sides of said opening, said slideways being located on the outer face of the front of the case. The casing 1 is closed at its top by means of a suitable cover 13, removablysecured to the upperedges of the easing by any suitable means, such as screws, &c.

As shown in Fig. 5, the chute 7 comprises a base-board 14, from which extend upward- 1y on opposite sides of said base-board two side pieces 15, formed substantially as shown in said figure, the rear upper edges of said side pieces being provided with upwardlyextending portions 16, which serve to form a stop against the entire removal of the chute from the box, the latter being accomplished only by forcing the chute to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4c, whereupon the chute may be removed by continuing the upward movement of the front end of the chute, which allows the portions 10 to pass out through the openings 17 formed in the front of the casing outside of the slideway 13, the openings 17 being of but sufficient size to allow of the passage of the sides 15. The chute 7 is partially closed by means of a strip 18,extending a small distance vertically from said bottom 14., said strip being provided with a suitable handle 19, by means of which the chute may be readily withdrawn from its position within the casing. The bottom lat is also provided with asuitable plate 20, whichis preferably formed of material having a slight resiliency, said plate being secured to the bottom at one end and extending rearwardly, said plate serving to hold the chute from being passed to its inward position accidentally and also serving as an inclined way for the passage of the contents from the interior of the casing.

In using my improved case during the packing of the contents fol-shipping the chute 7 is pushed inward, the plate 20 being held downwardly on top of the bottom 14 and be ing confined between the bottom 2 and the false bottom 5, the slide 12 also being in a position to close the opening 4. The contents are then packed within the interior of the casing 1 and the cover 13" secured in position thereon. In this position, unless the slide 12 is tampered with, the case will be in proper position for transportation without danger of the contents becoming spilled. Asan additional precaution it may be necessary to place a suitable strip across the front of the case above the slide 12 in order to prevent the slides being raised. After the case has reached its destination the cover 13 is not removed; but when it is desired to either inspect or dispense the contents the chute 7 is drawn forwardly until it has reached its forward limit of movement, whereupon the plate 20 may be readily grasped and carried above the front projecting end of the false bottom 5, this being the position shown in full lines in Fig. at. The slide 12 is then raised a suitable distance, whereupon the contents, owing to the fact that the interior of the casing .is inclined toward the front, will pass out through the opening 4 onto the chute 7, the passage being regulated by the position occu pied by the slide 12 in its slideway. When a sufficient quantity of the contents has been allowed to pass out, the chute or the slide 12 is pushed downward into position, thus preventing the escape of any more of the contents, and at the same time preventing the entrance of any dust, 620., into the interior of the casing. WVith the contents located on the chute 7 it will be readily seen that they can be inspected, and if disposed of may be readily removed from the chute by the use of a scoop or other suitable means in the usual manner.

The advantages of this construction are many, including the fact that the case, in addition to being the dispensing and displaying cabinet, is in itself a shipping-cabinet, the parts being so arranged as to close up to prevent the entrance of dirt, the. Many other advantages appear, but it is not thought necessary to point them out in detail.

While I have heretofore stated that the case is intended particularly for the shipping, &c., of fruit, it is to be understood that the case may be used for other purposes, such as the retention of groceries, 850,,- in a grocery store, or may be used for a coal-bin or flourbin, as the case may be.

While I have herein shown a preferred form of carrying my invention into effect, yetI do not desire to limit myself to such preferred details of construction, but claim the right to use any and all modifications thereof which will serve to carry into effect the objects to be attained by this invention in so far as such modifications and changes may fall within the spirit and scope of my said invention.

I claim 1. A cabinet, comprising a casing, said casing being inclined toward the lower portion of its front; an opening formed in the front of said casing contiguous toits bottom; a slide movable vertically in front of said opening, whereby said opening may be opened or closed; and a chute removably secured within said casing, in juxtaposition to said opening, said chute being movable into and out of a position in front of said opening, said chute in its outer position serving to receive the contents of said cabinet when said slide has been raised, substantially as described.

2. A cabinet, comprising a casing, said casing being inclined toward its lower portion, said casing having a chamber, the bottom of which is inclined toward its front; an opening formed in the front of said casing, contiguous to the bottom of said chamber; a slide movable vertically in front of said opening, whereby said opening may be opened to a regulated position; and a chute removably secured within said casing, in juxtaposition to said opening, said chute, in its outer position, serving to receive the contents of said cabinet when said slide has been raised, substantially as described.

3. "A combined shipping, display and dispensing cabinet, comprising a casing normally closed; said casing havinga chamber, the bottom of which is inclined toward its front; an outlet located contiguous to the bottom of said chamber, said outlet serving to allow of the passage of the contents from said chamber; controllable means for closing said opening; a concealed slideway formed in said chamber and extending below the bottom thereof; and a chute removably secured to said casing, having a movement within said slideway at a point in juxtaposition to said opening, whereby the contents passing from said opening will pass on to said chute when in its outer position, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM MACDONALD. Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. McLnon, JOHN L. FLEMMING. 

